Josh Goot, owner of Wardrobe.NYC, and Christine Centenera, a designer with a decade-old eponymous collection, have teamed earlier this month to create a collection that was set to try to disrupt the fast fashion dynasty.
Virgil Abloh, Off-White founder and longtime friend of both Goot and Centenera, had the pleasure to interview both of them before his trip to London, where he won British Fashion Council’s Urban Luxe Brand Award while wearing a brand new Wardrobe.NYC suit and shirt.
Below are a couple of questions that Abloh himself personally asked. You can read the full interview at Vogue.com
Virgil Abloh: Talk to me about the moments before settling on the exact structure of Wardrobe.NYC. What informed how you got here?
Josh Goot: There were a few things happening: I was wrestling with the challenges of running my own label. And I was exhausted and I suppose less inspired to stay on the merry-go-round. I was also spending a lot more time in New York, feeling the energy here, seeing the way people work, move, think, and live. And then I was also kind of pondering the mood of the industry. There has been so much talk about a broken model or a changing landscape. I was thinking about how to keep all the good stuff, but do something that makes more sense from a business model point of view.
Virgil Abloh: How did you land on the pre-pack idea?
Christine Centenera: I think we take for granted how often people find it difficult to get dressed in the morning. I think this provides a solution. As for how we landed on the eight pieces, we looked at ourselves; we have active lives, constantly moving and doing different things each day. I need pieces to work hard in my wardrobe and be versatile and of great quality, and I want to know that I’m wearing items that are well made. We got it down to the eight pieces that we think form the basis of a wardrobe that can be worn together as an ensemble or mixed back with fashion pieces. Part of this concept is “less is more,” in a way.
